The Washington critic., 1887-03-29
DODD'S BOY.

q circumstance to the color Of his
cheeks, and his appetite might have
raised the price of provisions. There
wasn't such another boy in town, nor
in any other town. Just show us his
match, name your price and the money
Is yours.
Almost everybody called him
"Dodd's boy" although Dodd him
self called him Sam)-so with us,
Dodd's boy let 1t be.
How he could yell In the wild
prairies of the West there wasn't an
Indian, who, on hearing Dodd's boy
yell, wouldn't have been ashamed of
his own weak war, whoop. But he
wasn't always noisy. His voice could
be low and swec. and tender-for a
bundle of contradictions was this boy
of Dodds.
A sharp one, too, was Dodd's boy
You couldn't pull any wool over his
eyes ! People said to do that "one
would have to get up mighty early in
the morning." The truth was one
couldn't have done 1t even If he had
stayed up all night Dodd's boy was
as wide awake as wide awake could be-
There was no knowing where to have
him. Across the street moment ago
now yelling at your very heels-and,
quicker than you can turn around,
across the street again, laughing to
burst his sides.
He wasn't bad fellow, though-this
boy of Dodd's-dont think 1t lie
never did n mean or cruel thing in his
life. All the dogs and the cats In the
neighborhood liked him, and Dodd
himself said he was worth his weight
in gold, which was praise indeed; for
he was the village butcher and had
taken the boy out of charity and was
very hard to please.
Dodd's boy was In love. You need
not laugh What right minded lad has
no place In his heart for some pretty
little fairy? Show him to us, let us
look at him, and see how quickly we
will show you that he is q fraud and
not right .miuded.
His fairy's name was Dolly, and she
was Dodd's daughter. After seeing
her you never would have blamed the
boy for loving her. Why attempt to
describe her? Pen of mortal could
not do It, Imagine her as sweet and
as pretty rs you please, and you can.
not do her justice
Dodd lived away from his shop In q
little two story cottage, just outside the
town. Belonging to the cottage was
the neatest, cleanest little stable you
ever saw. In 1t was Dodd's boys
room-neat and clean, too, as every.
thing had to be round that stable.
Tho boy was considered quite n
member of that family and spent his
evenings with them. He thought the
little parlor. with its little piano and
other attractions, too numerous to men
tion, the very summit of earthly
grandeur.
1t may he mentioned here that every.
thing about the premises was on a
small, cunning scale.
When Dolly sat at the little piano and
sang (wonderfully like bird the boy
listened with ears, eyes and mouth wide
open.
We couldn't begin to tell you all the
songs she sang but there was one the
boy loved to listen TO better than all the
rest. An older friend, In spirit of
mischief, had taught her It; and In
truth 1t was strange song for such a
little girl to sing. Even now it is
known everywhere as "Tender and
Tiue." Dolly only knew the first few
lines, which are these:
Conld We come back to me, Douglas Douglas,
In the old likeness that knew:
would be so faithful, so loving Douglas,
Eouglas, Douglas, tender and true;
Never SpOrnful words should main vol.
I'D smi'e as sweet as the angels do.
You better believe that song was the
boys favorlte. We really believe he
would have listened 10 1t for days
without even stopping for meals
On certain night, memorable in the
history of Dodd's boy, Dolly, after
playing and singing ever so long, had
gone to bed thoroughly tired. He had
gone TO his room, but being neither
tired nor sleepy, was reading. The
fully that he laid aside his book and
blew out the flame of his coal oil lamp
Moonlight and coal oil-ihe boy had
too much taste to like combination
like that.
lie stood by the window, thinking
about the moon, and the stars, ant
God fhere was vein of seutimGn
in him--and good sentiment, tOo--al
though he was only butcher boy.
4 sound broke the sweet, deep 81
lerce, no, not broke the silence, bu
melted into It, and seemed almost
part of it. Because 1t seemed so, an,
that he was half dreaming, at first til,
boy was not startled, But, the souul
growing more strong and clear, HI
started and listened, wondering.
Never scornfuD word should pain you
I'D smile as sweet as the angels do,
Dolly's song and Dolly Us voice at tha
hour
His heart beat faster. 1t took
great leap In three jumps he was a
the head of the stairs, in three more Il
the foot. In few seconds he was Il
the open air praying God to save her
There, clad In her night dress, upor
the roof of the house, stood Dllly.
For the moment the sight nal
Dodd's boy powerless. He shuldnre,
as he saw Dolly begin to walk aloni
the very edge. The danger which hl,
benumbed him brought him to himself
Dodd' boy was quite reader, aud
remembering what he read, knew
thing or two She was walking Il
her sieep-there could be no doubt o
that. lie had read once that to cry on
to one walking in sleep Is dangerous
There was but one way-he cOunte
the danger TO himself nothing.
81 must walk below her, ," he though,
"The roof Is not high and, II she falls
cnn save her from these cruel bricks